Airbus: develops “CIMON,” a system to help astronauts

(CercleFinance.com) - In partnership with IBM, Airbus has developed a system to help astronauts that is based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has been called CIMON (Crew Interactive MObile CompanioN).

The system has been created for the German DLR Space Administration (DLR). The technology demonstrator aboard, which is like a ball used in gymnasiums, weighs around 5 kg. Alexander Gerst will test is onboard the Horizons mission of the European Space Agency, which is scheduled to take place from June to October 2018.

“We are the first company in Europe to carry a free flyer, a kind of flying brain, to the ISS and to develop artificial intelligence for the crew on board the space station. Pioneering work was also being done in the area of manufacturing.”

“In short, CIMON will be the first AI-based mission and flight assistance system,” said Manfred Jaumann, Head of Microgravity Payloads from Airbus.